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A  SONG  OF  LIFE 

MEDITATIONS 


ATKINS 


y 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


,,  -::.!■  U 


**i^«»u£~trs 


' '  Listen  to  the  Song  of  Life 


v^  SONG  ^/^  LIFE 

MEDITATIONS 

by 
Albert  J.  Atkins 

Third  edition,  ren.<ised  and  enlarged 


^ 


\-^ 


Su  FnndfiCb,  C«Ufonut 

f^„-;;,;i,rf  A>    RICARPO    ^.  Oft07CC 
MCMX 


Copyright,  1905 

by  Albert  J.  Atkins 

San  Francisco 


G1C)490 

UBBIKY 


A  SONG  OF  LIFE 

WAKE,  arise,  listen  to  the  song 
of  life.  It  has  notes  of  gladness, 
and  strains  of  sorrow,  disap- 
pointment and  despair,  yet  even  these 
are  softened  hy  the  sweet  notes  of  pathos 
and  of  love. 

At  first,  all  may  seem  confusion  and 
you  may  declare  that  all  is  discord ;  but 
wait,  strive  to  catch  the  deeper  melody, 
for  the  song  is  there.  It  may  not  be 
judged  by  an}''  one  note,  nor  even  by 
any  one  strain;  you  must  catch  the  whole 
theme,  then  all  discord  will  be  lost  in 
the  complete  harmony  of  the  mighty 
song.  Perhaps  you  have  only  heard  the 
voices  of  the  storm  and  the  whirlwind 
which  make  the  earth  tremble  as  if  in 

5 


fear;  listen  again,  you  will  hear  other 
voices,  for  there  are  many  in  the  song 
of  life.  After  the  mighty  peals  of  thun- 
der have  ceased,  after  the  clouds  and 
storm  have  vanished,  then,  in  the  still- 
ness of  the  hour,  will  be  heard  the  mi- 
nor notes,  the  expressions  of  melody 
which  awake  the  slumbering  emotions 
of  the  soul.  Listen  to  the  note  of  one 
chirping  insect,  then  another,  and  an- 
other; follow  upward  from  these  infin- 
itesimal singers,  you  will  hear  the  song 
of  birds,  then  the  lowing  of  a  distant 
herd,  all  full  of  music  for  him  who  hath 
ears  to  hear.  These  songs  are  borne 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  breezes,  to  the 
flowers  and  trees  of  the  woodland,  un- 
til all  the  voices  of  Nature  blend  in  one 
grand  symphony  —  this  is  the  song  of 
life. 


PROGRESS 

XN  the  pathway  of  progress,  the 
poets  ever  lead.  They  are  the 
Prophets  whose  eyes  see  visions 
of  beauty,  and  possibiUties  of  attainment 
that  hire  men  onward  to  conquer  obsta- 
cles and  to  wrest  from  Nature  her  finer 
secrets. 

Later  come  the  toilers,  hewing  the 
world's  pathway,  making  practical  that 
which  hitherto  was  only  ideal;  giving 
to  humanity  the  power  to  take  another 
forward  step  in  the  onward  march  of 
progress,  which  all  are  eager  to  join,  and 
which  in  these  days  of  achievement  all 
are  sharing  by  coming  into  practical 
possession  of  great  truths. 

The   minds  that   vibrate  in  unison 

7 


with  life's  grander  scale  are  those  who 
lead  the  world  to  greater  development 
and  harmony;  though  many  of  these 
are  unknown,  yet  none  the  less  they 
are  doing  their  part  in  the  constant  prog- 
ress of  endless  evolution.  Others,  in 
various  arenas,  are  visibly  working  out 
grand  ideas;  the  world's  work  requires 
them  all.  The  way  is  long  and  diffi- 
cult; the  goal  of  today  becomes  a  new 
point  of  departure  from  which  we  must 
strive  toward  a  yet  higher  goal  tomor- 
row; yet,  he  who  loves  his  fellowmen 
labors  with  untiring  zeal  in  his  efforts 
to  uplift  humanity. 


HOEVER  becomes  overen- 
thused  by  any  one  idea  cannot 
see  a  composite  whole  truth, 
consequently  cannot  know  that  a  uni- 
versal relationship  exists  between  all 
conditions  of  life ;  that  a  thread  of  unity 
runs  through  all  diversity. 

8 


EVOLUTION 

When  we  think  of  the  many  failures 
Of  Uves  that  have  gone  before. 
Each  with  its  proud  ideals. 
Scattered  along  the  shore; 
The  heart  is  filled  with  sadness, 
For  all  the  efforts  of  man 
Should  only  be  notes  of  gladness 
In  the  great  eternal  plan. 
Each  shares  his  own  of  sorrow. 
Each  must  feel  his  bitter  pain, 
That  in  some  distant  morrow 
There  may  come  the  perfect  man; 
And  never  an  effort  is  wasted. 
No  good  thought  goes  astray. 
If  we  look  at  life's  great  problems 
In  the  higher  and  broader  way. 


.»-^ 


INFINITY 

"—^g-'  AM  the  Infinite,  from  me  all 
things  proceed,  unto  me  all 
things  return. 

Before  the  morning  stars  took  their 
place  in  the  great  procession  of  time,  I 
had  existence  in  the  silence  of  the  uni- 
verse. 

I  am  the  light  and  glory  of  the  sun, 
the  purple  tints  of  the  morning,  the 
soft  shadows  of  the  evening.  I  am  the 
blush  of  the  rose,  the  divinity  of  love, 
the  sadness  of  thought,  yet  I  am  invis- 
ible, the  great  Unseen. 

Wise  men  of  all  ages  have  sought  for 
me,  yet  found  me  not,  for  I  am  the 
Great  Unknown. 


10 


A  GROWING  PLANT 


m 


HEN  I  look  into  thy  heart,  O 
growing  plant,  when  I  see  thy 
flowers  unfolding  to  the  breez- 
es, I  feel  like  pressing  thee  to  my  bosom, 
like  crying  out  I  have  found  in  thee  a 
brother  to  my  finer  self.  Why  have  my 
dull  senses  only  recognized  thy  external 
beauty?  Why  has  my  soul  not  felt  its 
kinship  to  thee? 

Truly  thy  life  is  a  pattern  of  all  that 
inner  life  which  I  would  express;  thy 
beauty  is  an  image  of  the  ideal  within 
my  heart.  The  power  which  plays 
through  thy  delicate  structure,  causing 
it  to  respond  with  sweet  perfume,  is  the 
same  power  which  uplifts  my  mind  in 
inspiration,  thus  enabling  me  to  read 

11 


within  thy  being  the  same  principles 
which  are  in  my  own  Hfe,  the  same 
principles  found  in  every  phase  of  life 
throughout  the  universe.  As  I  study 
thy  beauteous  form  I  see  the  positive, 
heat-producing  sunray  mingling  its  red 
tints  with  the  cool,  blue  rays  of  the 
negative  earth,  until  they  interblend 
under  the  law  of  magnetic  harmony, 
pausing  to  build  thy  petals  and  to  paint 
them  in  all  their  brilliant  coloring. 


RUTH  is  a  correct  conclusion 
based  on  facts  that  are  gathered 
from    all    extremes,    therefore 

truth  is  central  and  is  most  to  be  found 

on  middle  grounds. 


E   who   would    ascend    Mount 

Olympus  and  know  its  divine 

'*"    -      wisdom,  must  first  write  upon 

thetabletsofhishearttheloveof  truth  and 

become  one  in  spirit  with  all  mankind. 

12 


A  PR.\YER 

'^^-—  HE  Divine  Spirit  of  Nature  per- 
€  J  meates  all  life ;  its  action  is  both 
^**^  visible  and  invisible;  its  basic 
unity  is  indestructible,  calm  and  serene. 

O  Spirit  of  all  matter.  Spirit  of  all 
force.  Spirit  of  all  nature,  from  ever- 
lasting to  everlavSting,  Thou  art  full  of 
joy,  full  of  contentment,  full  of  peace. 
In  thy  great  presence  the  soul  unfolds  to 
the  possibilities  of  its  own  achievement, 
to  the  realization  of  its  own  divinity. 

Let  our  individuality  reflect  thy  di- 
vine selfhood,  let  us  sink  into  repose 
upon  thy  bosom,  like  a  child  cradled  in 
the  arms  of  love ;  in  this  atmosphere  of 
peace  we  shall  find  all  that  for  which  we 
have  labored  in  the  great  efforts  of  life. 

13 


DEATH 

DEATH,  thou  hast  bathed  the 
earth  in  tears,  yet,  with  all  thy 
somberness  thy  strength  has  not 
been  sufficient  to  destroy  man's  thought 
of  ultimate  victory  over  thee. 

Thou  art  a  part  of  Nature's  purpose, 
the  infinite  measure  of  which  we  cannot 
understand,  but  in  the  darkness  of  thy 
sable  night,  evershines  the  Star  of  Hope. 
Through  thy  portals  pass  all  things,  the 
brave,  the  noble,  the  good ;  all  that  is  beau- 
tiful, all  that  is  sacred  to  human  affection. 
All  these  have  woven  about  thee  a  halo 
of  love;  a  love  that  is  stronger  than  thy 
shackles,  more  lasting  than  thy  spell. 

Love  tears  away  thy  mask  of  sadness, 
revealing  thy  true  character — an  Angel 
of  Light. 

H 


THE  LAST  SLEEP 

LEEP  on,  O  Friend;  may  peace 
attend  thee  in  thy  slumber. 
The  noontide  of  Ufe  was  scarcely 
past  when  the  weariness  of  death  over- 
shadowed thee,  calling  thy  spirit  to  rest 
in  the  chamber  of  silence. 

These  beautiful  flowers  placed  about 
thy  couch  are  the  fitting  guardians  of 
thy  gentle  spirit.  Each  flower  breathes 
in  love  upon  thee,  a  blessing  from  some 
friend.  Each  bloom  is  but  the  mate- 
rial symbol  of  some  loving  thought, 
which,  in  the  past,  sprung  from  thy 
generous  heart.  Thy  magnanimous 
nature  brought  order  out  of  discord; 
thy  cheerful  words  were  melodious 
strains  in  the  song  of  life. 

15 


THE  LIGHT  ETERNAL 

» 

HEN  palling  shadows  of  mental 
night  overwhelm  thy  brooding 
spirit,  turn  thy  expansive  long- 
ings from  the  external  world  of  sensa- 
tion into  the  silent  chambers  of  thine 
inner  selfhood,  for  here  thou  shalt  find 
light.  At  first  the  subtile  rays  will  be 
so  faint  that  thine  eye  can  scarce  discern 
its  feeble  power  lighting  dimly  the  ruin 
and  desolation  of  thy  heart,  but  trust  its 
guidance  with  all  thy  failing  strength, 
for  the  light  will  grow  stronger  with 
thy  trust.  Soon  its  beams  will  be  bright- 
er and  brighter  until  thy  whole  life  will 
become  illumined  and  a  new  song  will 
burst  forth  from  thy  quivering  lips. 
Follow  on  in  the  light  for  this  is  the 

16 


sacred  lamp  of  truth  within  thine  own 
soul.  Its  power  alone  can  guide  thy 
faltering  footsteps  along  the  pathway 
of  life  into  the  light  eternal. 


1 


EXPRESSION 

ING  on,  O  Soul,  though  the 
cadences  of  thy  voice  fall  with- 
in shadows  of  the  night.  In 
the  shadows  of  the  silence  thy  brother  is 
awaiting  the  inspiration  of  thy  thought 
and  prayer.  Breathe  forth  thy  love  in 
accents  sweet  and  low,  for  every  out- 
breathing  of  the  soul's  desire  is  a  prayer, 
v/hich  shall  ultimately  find  answer  in 
the  eternal  events  of  life.  Therefore, 
let  the  beauty  within  thy  heart  find  full 
expression  in  the  great  rhythpiical  song 
of  life. 

17 


MY  RETREAT 

HERE  is  a  garden  in  my  heart, 
A  place  from  all  the  world  apart. 
Where  I  alone  in  sorrow  move. 
Awaiting  her  whose  name  is  Love ; 
Here  in  my  hour  of  deepest  night 
I  turn  to  find  her  beacon  light. 

Sometimes  I  feel  an  inner  gleam 
Of  Love's  true  light,  a  steadfast  beam; 
Then  comes  to  me  a  low,  sweet  voice. 
Which  makes  my  longing  soul  rejoice; 
A  message  brings  of  strength,  of  might. 
That  gives  me  courage  for  the  fight. 

When  weary  with  the  outward  strife, 
I  seek  this  sacred  inner  life, 
And  find  within  its  calm  repose, 
A  brief  surcease  from  earthly  woes; 
Thus,  in  the  garden  of  my  heart, 
I  rest  from  all  the  world  apart. 

18 


TO  MY  FATHER 

TT  seems  but  a  little  while  since 
you  and  I  struggled  side  by  side 
in  the  warfare  of  life.  Ours 
was  a  condition  of  great  privation,  yet 
it  was  ever  lighted  by  your  loving  smile, 
which  gave  me  hope.  One  day,  before 
I  fully  realized  that  you  could  go,  the 
spoiler  came  and  took  you  away,  and  I 
was  left  alone  to  go  onward  in  the  pur- 
suit of  young  ambition.  Years  have 
passed,  and  I  seem  to  be  waiting  for 
you  to  come  as  of  old,  to  tell  me  that 
you  share  my  sorrows,  rejoice  in  my 
victories,  and  still  believe  in  me.  Yours 
was  a  great  love,  it  was  from  a  heart  of 
gold. 


19 


r; 


TAMALPAIS 

Now  the  silv'ry  gray  mist  hovers 

O'er  the  hills  and  distant  bay; 
Like  a  silken  veil  it  covers 

All  the  landscape  far  away. 
Through  the  haze  a  boundless  ocean. 

With  untiring  ceaseless  roar, 
Breaks  with  ever  restless  motion 

Madly  on  the  rugged  shore. 


And  the  sunlight  softly  gleaming 

On  the  hills  with  mantels  gray, 
Show  the  mountains  ever  seeming 

Sentinels  to  guard  the  bay. 
High  above  all  others  standing, 

God's  own  Temple  grand  and  fre< 
Is  pro^id  Tamalpais  commanding 

Homage  from  the  land  and  sea. 

20 


e, 


il 


THOUGHT 

H OUGHT  is  mental  vision. 
1  Sensation  is  the  instrument  of 
thought.  All  sensory  apparatus 
photograph  their  repeated  impressions 
upon  the  sensitized  substance  of  the  brain. 
These  mental  pictures  are  thus  preserved, 
constituting  memory.  Through  will, 
mental  pictures  are  reversed,  bringing 
them  before  tne  mind  for  comparison, 
thus  forming  recollection.  Recollec- 
tion and  comparison  of  experiences  per- 
mit of  judgment.  Judgment  classifies 
the  results  as  conclusions.  Many  class- 
ified conclusions  constitute  knowledge. 
Knowledge  leads  to  principle.  The 
association  of  principles  gives  under- 
standing of  unity.  Unity  is  the  sum 
of  all  experiences,  the  comprehension 
of  which  is  wisdom. 

21 


r\TN' 


APPEAL  TO  HUMANITY 

* 

CHILDREN  of  Nature! 
Come  out  from  thy  illy  venti- 
lated houses,  come  into  the  pure 
electrical  sunshine,  to  a  life  in  the  open 
air  where  health  and  strength  abound. 
Fill  thy  lungs  with  its  certain  life  and 
catch  the  vital  aroma  from  the  gardens 
of  perpetual  spring  and  youth.  Lie 
upon  the  welcoming  bosom  of  the  great 
Mother  Earth,  listen  to  her  teachings; 
each  lesson  will  shed  the  light  of  wisdom 
and  joy  within  thy  heart.  Walk  in  thy 
gardens,  stroll  through  thy  parks,  com- 
mune with  Nature  in  spirit;  she  will 
soothe  thy  tired  nerves  and  rebuild  thy 
vital  organism  for  she  alone  is  the  Great 
Physician. 

22 


Study  the  vines  and  plants  of  Nature 
seriously, — each  one  of  them  can  preach 
a  divine  sermon  of  life.  Worship  God 
in  the  Holy  Temple  of  thine  own  soul, 
in  the  house  not  made  hy  human  hands. 
Lie  down  by  the  great  pulsating,  ever- 
living  ocean;  hug  its  sands  close  to  thy 
bosom ;  be  once  more  a  simple  child ; 
laugh  and  be  glad  in  harmony  with  the 
superabundance  of  life. 

Attune  thyself  to  the  Infinite  forces 
all  around,  beneath  and  above  thee; 
learn  to  realize  that  thine  own  life  is 
but  a  part  of  this  greater  Infinite  life; 
thou  art  but  a  note  in  the  Infinite  Song. 
Uplift  thy  thoughts ;  let  th}^  mind 
vibrate  in  unison  with  life's  greater 
rhythmic  song  and  thou  wilt  know  that 
all  is  good  to  him  who  hears  within  his 
own  soul  the  voice  of  peace. 


23 


UNIVERSAL   LIFE 

"^-  HE  infinite  measure  of  life's 
I  "  power  cannot  be  told  in  a  lan- 
^*^  guage  of  common  speech;  it  is 
measured  in  the  flash  of  the  lightning; 
in  the  crash  of  the  thunder;  in  the  storm 
and  whirlwind ;  in  the  glory  of  the  sun- 
shine as  it  blossoms  in  the  flowers, 
painting  them  in  heavenly  tints  of 
beauty,  while  they  freight  the  air  with 
sweet  perfume. 

Let  no  man  hope  to  grasp  the  full 
meaning  of  Life's  manifestations  with 
flame  and  retort  alone;  he  must  rise  to 
a  broader  outlook  and  realize  that  the 
Universe  is  made  up  of  living  substance ; 
that  all  matter  is  alive,  it  is  moving; 

24 


that  the  changes  which  we  witness  are 
only  those  of  form,  of  time,  and  vibra- 
tory rhythm;  that  not  one  pulsation  of 
energy  has  ever  been  lost  in  all  the 
seons  of  ages;  that  life  has  always  been, 
it  ever  will  be;  it  is  eternal  and  infinite. 

Universal  life  is  the  power  which 
builds  from  invisible  substance  all  that 
which  has  form,  shape  and  activit}^;  it 
builds  atoms,  shapes  crj^stals,  and  in  its 
first  feeble  way  shines  in  the  drops  of 
water  and  glistens  in  the  sands  of  the 
seashore.  The  strength  and  the  power 
which  condenses  the  atoms  into  solid 
rock,  with  a  change  of  vibration  and 
an  increased  force,  grows  in  the  forest, 
trembles  in  its  leaves,  sways  in  its  vines, 
which  are  but  prophecies  of  higher 
forms  yet  to  come,  for  the  leaf  upon 
the  tree,  as  it  flutters  in  the  breezes, 
has  but  to  feel  a  higher  touch  of  uni- 
versal life  and  it  flies  forth  as  the  insect 
of  the  air. 

From  the  great  universal  life,  which 
draws  from  the  barren  rock,  the  first 

25 


tiny  manifestation  of  organic  life,  up- 
ward through  all  the  circling  spirals  of 
evolution,  Nature  points  the  way,  re- 
vealing her  secrets  to  him  who  patiently 
and  diligently  searches  for  the  knowl- 
edge she  holds  in  her  keeping.  One 
phase  of  life  following  another,  step  by 
step,  all  brought  under  the  reign  of  one 
law  of  unity,  links  the  kingdoms  of 
Nature  into  one  harmonious  whole; 
through  Earth's  forests,  vines  and  grain 
fields  she  shadows  forth  her  all-embrac- 
ing plan  of  organic  life.  Gradually  de- 
veloping her  culminati  ng  forces  through 
seed  and  cell,  she  brings  forth  order 
after  order,  preserving  as  far  as  possible 
their  individuality  through  heredity ;  fol- 
lowing fixed  laws,  she  ultimately  cre- 
ates her  highest  product,  man.  Formed 
on  the  same  principle  as  the  life  beneath 
him,  built  from  atoms  and  cells,  grad- 
ually growing  more  complex,  until  at 
last  united  into  one  symmetrical  system, 
the  light  of  a  higher  intelligence  shows 
itself  in  him,  through   emotions  and 

26 


thought,  which  may,  in  turn,  scan  the 
nether  world,  or  scale  the  clouds  to 
catch  an  inspiration  of  wisdom,  which 
may  lead  to  an  understanding  of  the 
harmonies  of  Nature,  whose  greatest 
symphony  is  the  vibratory  music  of 
universal  life  in  action. 


I, 


r 


27 


^ENIA 


-J  Atkins     -  'RARY  FACILITY 

63    5 


^S"J^73s 


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BJ 

1595 

A873s 


